Profile: Most people prefer their closers to throw hard. Motte’s average fastball velocity is in the mid-90s while current Cardinals closer Ryan Franklin is about four mph slower. Combine that with Franklin outpitching his peripherals in 2009 and many people thought Motte would take over as closer during the 2010 season. But Franklin converted 93 percent of his save opportunities last year and Motte was able to vulture just two saves. With a 9.29 K/9 ratio last year, Motte still seems like a closer in waiting and will likely be picked up in many leagues as owners anticipate a changing of the guard in the St. Louis bullpen. But Motte still has some issues versus LHP, against whom he has allowed a lifetime .850 OPS and had 12 BB and 15 Ks in 2010. Even if Franklin loses his job, Motte is not necessarily the heir apparent closer. Kyle McClellan did not have a noticeable left/right split and he could be next in line for saves in St. Louis. (Brian Joura)

The Quick Opinion: Motte throws gas and is commonly thought to be a closer in waiting. But he has a big left/right split and may not be the next in line for saves.

Profile: From Minor League catcher to closer on a World Series Champion in the span of five years, Motte rose from the ashes in the Cardinals' bullpen to grab hold of the ninth inning down the stretch. He struck out more than eight batters per nine innings for the fourth straight year, but also dropped his walk rate for the second consecutive season. Motte has gotten his control together to the point where he's a possible sub-1.00 WHIP guy going forward, assuming he gets just a smidgen of luck on balls in play. The 29-year-old right-hander will begin the season as the undisputed ninth inning guy in St. Louis, a far cry from the sixth and seventh inning work he was receiving at the same point a year ago. Motte has a chance to emerge as one of the better fantasy closer options out there, but it's almost guaranteed that he'll be a bit overvalued given his dominant finish to the season and lights out playoff run. (Mike Axisa)

The Quick Opinion: Motte was the model for fantasy bullpens in 2011, going from interesting high-strikeout middle reliever early in the season to dominant closer in the World Series. He's continued to improve his control as he's gotten further away from catching, which is a very good sign going forward.

Profile: Motte acclimated himself well to full-time closing in 2012, saving 42 games with a 2.75 ERA and solid 3.12 FIP. Although it feels like Motte just burst onto the scene, he'll turn 31 in June, and the problem that kept him in the background for so long cropped up again at times in 2012: the home run. Motte allowed nine home runs in 72 innings, his second season over one per nine innings in the past four years and his third over 0.85. Given his reliance on fastballs, it isn't surprising opponents hit the ball hard on the rare occasion they can square it up. His blazing fastball should keep the strikeouts up and keep his job safe, but don't expect him to rise into elite territory. (Jack Moore)

The Quick Opinion: Motte's reliance on fastballs means hitters are able to put balls into the seats when they square up. Expect Motte to continue to rack up strikeouts and saves, but home run issues will likely keep him out of the top tier of closers.

Profile: Motte missed all of 2013 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Despite saving 42 games with a sub-three ERA and strikeout-to-walk ratio above five in 2012, he's unlikely to be inserted back into the closer role whenever he returns in 2014. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny has already said that Trevor Rosenthal will begin 2014 as the closer. But if Rosenthal were to hit the disabled list or be moved to the rotation at some point, Motte could find himself back in the fantasy-relevant closer role. If and when that happens, be quick to the waiver wire. But until that point Motte is only useful in holds leagues or deeper leagues where high-strikeout middle relievers have value. (Brett Talley)

The Quick Opinion: Motte will be returning from Tommy John surgery, but he won't be returning to the closer role right away. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny has said that Trevor Rosenthal will begin the season as the team's closer. But Motte will still have value in holds leagues and as a speculative stash for those chasing saves.

Profile: Motte was one of the best closers in baseball in 2012, when he reached 42 saves while striking out 10.8 batters per nine. Unfortunately, Tommy John surgery ended his 2013 season before it began, and when he finally made it back to the majors for a half-season in 2014, he had lost three miles per hour off his fastball and was striking out just 6.1 batters per nine. This offseason, he signed a one-year deal with the Cubs, who are thin and inexperienced in the back of their bullpen. Still, there is little reason to expect Motte can return to his previous elite form and so there is little reason to draft him in mixed league formats. (Scott Spratt)

The Quick Opinion: Motte signed a one-year deal with the Cubs, but his diminished velocity and strikeout rates following Tommy John surgery do not provide much reason for optimism that he can return to his previous elite form.

Profile: 2015 didn't feature the Jason Motte we knew from 2010-2013, when he posted strikeout rates above 20% and held down the Cardinals closer role for an entire season (2013). He did, however, return healthy from Tommy John surgery (at least preliminarily), and was serviceable in the Cubs bullpen to the tune of a 3.91/3.61 ERA/FIP over 48.1 innings before going down with a slightly worrying shoulder strain. The second half of the season provides an interesting question mark as to what we might see out of him during 2016, as he showed slightly improved strikeout ability over the first half (17.4% vs. 16.1% strikeout rates) and much better command (6.6% vs. 2.9% walk rates) -- albeit in a very small sample size (15 innings). The results weren't kind to him during the second half just prior to his injury (a 6.00 ERA, driven largely by a .377 batting average on balls in play) but the Rockies saw enough in him to grant him a two-year deal, where he'll figure to be a part of the bullpen's setup situation. Assuming he's fully healthy, Motte can still flash upper 90s heat, but his premier strikeout days are probably behind him, as are his full-time duties as a closer. (Owen Watson)

The Quick Opinion: Heading into his age 34 season, Motte is almost certainly not going to return to his dominant 2010-2013, pre-Tommy John surgery self. However, he did post a very respectable average fastball velocity this past season (95 mph), and he'll fit nicely into the back end picture of a revamped Rockies bullpen. Look to Motte as a potential source of holds, and a long shot to win closing duties at some point during the season given his previous experience in the role.